How to Flip Low Moments Into Viral Potential

A self-reflection on 2024 and bold resolutions for 2025

December 19, 20246 min read

Have you ever felt comfortable in your routine, yet deep down sensed that it’s not as stable as it seems?

In an era where AI breakthroughs make headlines every few days, do you feel like it’s time for a change, but you’re not sure where to start?

That was me three months ago.

The Struggles Behind the PhD Curtain

I hold a PhD in a niche STEM field. When people hear “Ivy League,” they often say, “Wow, that’s impressive!” But deep down, I know the truth: having this kind of academic background doesn’t guarantee an easy job, nor does it offer many opportunities outside academia.

After graduating, I became pregnant with my first baby. During those months, I began seriously questioning whether all the time and effort I had invested in my studies had been worth it. Eventually, when my baby was six months old, I decided to pivot and start over. I stopped chasing academic forms and transitioned into tech.

Fortunately, I landed a programmer role with a research-oriented startup. The environment felt familiar, and I enjoyed the work. Life began to stabilize.

But that stability left me uneasy. My days felt like two parallel timelines: one filled with the demands of being a software engineer and mother, and the other a constant longing to rediscover my sense of self-worth.

The two paths rarely crossed, and when they did, life’s trivialities and my limited energy made it impossible for them to truly merge. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this comfort was fragile and temporary.

The Turning Point

A few months ago, this unease reached its peak. I found myself searching for something — anything — to break out of my rut. That’s when I stumbled upon a YouTuber’s video on “Go-to-Market Strategies.”

The video resonated with me deeply. I binge-watched more discussions on the topic and decided: it’s time to do something, anything.

Breaking the Ice: Writing, Creating, and Exploring New Horizons

In Fall 2024, I began my “breaking the ice” journey. It focused on three areas: YouTube, writing, and indie projects.

I began by sharing my journey of transitioning into tech through biweekly YouTube videos. However, the response was underwhelming. Maybe I’m not charismatic enough, or perhaps my content wasn’t compelling. Either way, I haven’t updated my channel in a month and decided to quit.

2\. Writing on Medium (and Beyond)

In Late September, I returned to Medium, committed to posting three articles per week. Initially, I was just documenting ideas for my YouTube videos. But to my surprise, some articles were selected as boosted articles by the Medium’s Partner Program. Below are the examples that discussed those articles.

In just one month, I not only earned back the $50 annual membership fee but also rediscovered the joy and value of content creation. This unexpected win was a highlight of my “breaking the ice” efforts.

Other Platforms: Substack, X, Bluesky

Writing on Medium opened new doors. I learned about newsletters and personal branding — concepts I had previously known little about. Along the way, I discovered platforms like Substack and Beehiiv, which allow creators to build direct relationships with readers.

[Code · Write · Build

Anyone can code and excel! Explore practical ways to code, write, and build, with insights from Generative AI to help you create impactful side hustles in the digital world.

By Jenny Ouyang

](https://jennyouyang.substack.com?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=publication_embed&utm_medium=web)

I also began exploring indie projects and engaging with communities on platforms like X and Bluesky. These spaces introduced me to discussions among builders and creators, sparking ideas and inspiration.

3\. Entering the World of Indie Creators

As I immersed myself in indie projects, I started experimenting with my own ideas and documenting the process on Medium and Substack.

For example, one of my experiments gained unexpected interest from others who asked if the app I created was available online. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, I began polishing the app for a public launch.

Every day, I come up with ideas that could genuinely improve people’s lives. This mindset feels incredible — a stark contrast to where I was a few months ago.

The most surprising part? Indie developers have reached out to collaborate, something I never imagined possible.

By the end of 2024, I hope to launch my first indie project. This milestone will mark my transition into the role of an “independent creator.”

Looking Ahead to 2025: Exploring My Self-Worth

I’ve recently started to describing myself as:
“Programmer by day, parent by evening, indie creator by night.”

Over the past over two months, I’ve learned how to carve out time for myself amidst the busyness of life. The hours after 9 p.m. have become my favorite part of the day — a time to focus on productivity and creativity, rather than worrying about things like housing prices or school districts.

For 2025, I hope to continue this momentum, staying energized, writing consistently, and building indie projects.

My 2025 Goals Breakdown

1\. Writing

I’ll continue publishing on Medium and Substack, focusing on:

Practical coding challenges and solutions I encounter at work.
Lessons learned and progress updates from my indie projects.

2\. Indie Projects

I ambitiously set a goal to complete 30 GenAI projects in an earlier blog post.

For 2025, I plan to tackle this goal head-on. I already have ideas for at least 10 projects, and I’ll gather inspiration for the rest from daily life, communications and reading.

I tend to keep a low profile, both online and offline — but that needs to change. In 2025, I’ll make an effort to like, comment, and engage more. Writing on Medium taught me that building connections is crucial for exchanging ideas, launching products, and personal growth.

4\. Parenthood

Last but definitely not least, I want to involve my child in my creative process, sparking discussions and encouraging curiosity.

I have always hoped that my parents can be more adventurous and open to new ideas, and that they can truly teach me societal lessons. But now it is my chance to become that kind of parent.

Reflections on What I miss

At a recent meetup, the topic of “regret” struck a chord with me.

Looking at the dramatic changes on platforms like Medium, Substack and a lot others, I often wonder: what if I had committed to writing in 2020? Where would I be now?

Four years ago, I published my first Medium article about radium levels in fracking wastewater. It received writer invitations from major publications like The Startup and Towards Data Science.

But at the time, with a 9-month-old baby and a new career as a software engineer, I was overwhelmed. I let the opportunity slip away.

Do I regret missing out on explosive growth opportunities on Medium? Absolutely.

But regret is useless. Instead of dwelling on what I missed, I choose to act now. If today’s me is frustrated with the choices I made four years ago, I hope the me four years from now will look back and feel grateful for the efforts I’m making today.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading this far. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the last bit of 2024 because I want every day of 2025 to carry the same energy and purpose I’ve found over the past two months.

Here’s to consistent writing, meaningful projects, and embracing new challenges. Let’s see where this journey takes us!

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